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Steel Tiger
"I want a son," Don Felipe said
That was the first indication Jan Presley had that the paper she'd signed was not a normal contract for secretarial employment. What had she let herself in for?
Don Felipe de Rimados made it clear that Jan's intrusion into his ordered life was for one reason only. He didn't want the shackles of matrimony, and when her purpose was fulfilled, she'd be discarded without a second thought.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best," he told Jan firmly. Her feelings didn't seem to matter at all ....
That was the first indication Jan Presley had that the paper she'd signed was not a normal contract for secretarial employment. What had she let herself in for?
Don Felipe de Rimados made it clear that Jan's intrusion into his ordered life was for one reason only. He didn't want the shackles of matrimony, and when her purpose was fulfilled, she'd be discarded without a second thought.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best," he told Jan firmly. Her feelings didn't seem to matter at all ....
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
101 people want to read
About the author
Kay Thorpe
181 books65 followersKay Thorpe was born on 1935 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK. An avid reader from the time when words on paper began to make sense, she developed a lively imagination of her own, making up stories for the entertainment of her young friends. After leaving school, she tried a variety of jobs, including dental nursing, and a spell in the Women's Royal Airforce from which she emerged knowing a whole lot more about life - if only as an observer.
In 1960, she married with Tony, but didn't begin thinking about trying her hand at writing for a living until she gave up work some four years later to have a baby, John. Having read Mills & Boon novels herself, and done some market research in the local library asking readers what it was they particularly liked about the books, she decided to aim for a particular market, and was fortunate to have her very first, completed manuscript accepted - The Last of the Mallorys, published in 1968. Since then she has written over seventy five books, which doesn't begin to compare with the output of some Mills & Boon authors, but still leaves her wondering where all those words came from.
Sometimes, she finds she has become two different people: the writer at her happiest when involved in the world of books and authors; and the housewife, turning her hands to the everyday needs of husband and son. Once in a while, she finds it difficult to step from one role to the other. She likes cooking, for instance, but she finds that it can be an irritating interruption when she's preoccupied with work on a novel, so the quality of her efforts in the kitchen tend to be a little erratic. She says, "As my husband once remarked, my writing gives life a fascinating element of uncertainly: one day a perfect coq au vin, the next day a couple of burned chops!"
Luckily Kay has daily professional help with her housework, and that leaves her time to indulge in her hobbies. Like many other Mills & Boon authors, she admits to being a voracious consumer of books, a quality she shares with her readers. She likes music and horseback riding, which she does in the countryside near her home. But her favorite hobby is travel - especially to places that will make good settings for her books.
Kay now lives on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, along with husband, Tony, and a huge tabby cat called Mad Max, her one son having flown the coop. Some day she'll think about retiring, but not yet awhile.
In 1960, she married with Tony, but didn't begin thinking about trying her hand at writing for a living until she gave up work some four years later to have a baby, John. Having read Mills & Boon novels herself, and done some market research in the local library asking readers what it was they particularly liked about the books, she decided to aim for a particular market, and was fortunate to have her very first, completed manuscript accepted - The Last of the Mallorys, published in 1968. Since then she has written over seventy five books, which doesn't begin to compare with the output of some Mills & Boon authors, but still leaves her wondering where all those words came from.
Sometimes, she finds she has become two different people: the writer at her happiest when involved in the world of books and authors; and the housewife, turning her hands to the everyday needs of husband and son. Once in a while, she finds it difficult to step from one role to the other. She likes cooking, for instance, but she finds that it can be an irritating interruption when she's preoccupied with work on a novel, so the quality of her efforts in the kitchen tend to be a little erratic. She says, "As my husband once remarked, my writing gives life a fascinating element of uncertainly: one day a perfect coq au vin, the next day a couple of burned chops!"
Luckily Kay has daily professional help with her housework, and that leaves her time to indulge in her hobbies. Like many other Mills & Boon authors, she admits to being a voracious consumer of books, a quality she shares with her readers. She likes music and horseback riding, which she does in the countryside near her home. But her favorite hobby is travel - especially to places that will make good settings for her books.
Kay now lives on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, along with husband, Tony, and a huge tabby cat called Mad Max, her one son having flown the coop. Some day she'll think about retiring, but not yet awhile.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 8, 2017
3 YOU'RE JUST NUTS STARS
"I want a son." Hero Don Felipe say this to the heroine Jan.
This is you typical batshit crazy story about an evil stepsister leaving the nice innocent one holding the bag. Well in this case its more like carrying the baby. Jan's stepsister manipulates her into accepting what she believes is a job being Don Felipe's secretary.
Boy did this girl get the shock of her life!
When the hero spells out what he wants from her, she is in shock. She is repulsed by his proposition and disgusted by the whole situation.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best." Felipe tells her this when she refuses to be his rented womb.
Now in true HPland style, the hero seduces and uses this innocent as a pawn to achieve his goal.
But what happens when emotions finally overtake them both?
Now if an arrogent man who is forceful, manipulative, who will stop at nothing to get his way, bothers you, then I would suggest you give this book a skip. If this is something you enjoy, then dive right in to these choppy waters.
Hope you're a strong swimmer here!
Now I feel I should warn you of the forced seduction in this book by the hero toward the heroine.
Safety: no cheating (no sharing the hero never slept with the stepsister) some OW drama and as with all HP books this has pushing and pulling. This is what these books are all about.
"I want a son." Hero Don Felipe say this to the heroine Jan.
This is you typical batshit crazy story about an evil stepsister leaving the nice innocent one holding the bag. Well in this case its more like carrying the baby. Jan's stepsister manipulates her into accepting what she believes is a job being Don Felipe's secretary.
Boy did this girl get the shock of her life!
When the hero spells out what he wants from her, she is in shock. She is repulsed by his proposition and disgusted by the whole situation.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best." Felipe tells her this when she refuses to be his rented womb.
Now in true HPland style, the hero seduces and uses this innocent as a pawn to achieve his goal.
But what happens when emotions finally overtake them both?
Now if an arrogent man who is forceful, manipulative, who will stop at nothing to get his way, bothers you, then I would suggest you give this book a skip. If this is something you enjoy, then dive right in to these choppy waters.
Hope you're a strong swimmer here!
Now I feel I should warn you of the forced seduction in this book by the hero toward the heroine.
Safety: no cheating (no sharing the hero never slept with the stepsister) some OW drama and as with all HP books this has pushing and pulling. This is what these books are all about.
August 3, 2017
This was great. I had forgotten I had read this until I got to the blood transfusion scene and then I remembered. Yes, I've read other books with the English rose heroines trapped in the castle with brooding Spanish heroes and their loyal servants. And I don't think this is the first in Harlequin land where the stepsister tricks the heroine into a job she didn't want. But now I'm unsure if this is the only HP that has the heroine thinking the job is for a secretary when it's actually being a babymaker.
Anyway, this one has all of the HP chills and thrills.
A virgin who is attracted to the hero, but is in a dither because she must give herself to the hero without love
An escape by the heroine.
Gypsy palm reader.
Sullen servants who come around after the heroine stands up for the stable boy.
A snooty OW
A forced wedding ceremony
A desperate OM who keeps whining to the heroine
Jealousy on both the H/h parts.
A whole new wardrobe.
Hero gored by a bull saving tourists
Heroine gives blood for the hero's transfusion.
A car accident
A blood infection.
Pregnancy symptoms
The hero declares himself first. HEA
And all of this drama and action takes place within a month. What more could you want in a vintage HP? *happy sigh*
Anyway, this one has all of the HP chills and thrills.
A virgin who is attracted to the hero, but is in a dither because she must give herself to the hero without love
An escape by the heroine.
Gypsy palm reader.
Sullen servants who come around after the heroine stands up for the stable boy.
A snooty OW
A forced wedding ceremony
A desperate OM who keeps whining to the heroine
Jealousy on both the H/h parts.
A whole new wardrobe.
Hero gored by a bull saving tourists
Heroine gives blood for the hero's transfusion.
A car accident
A blood infection.
Pregnancy symptoms
The hero declares himself first. HEA
And all of this drama and action takes place within a month. What more could you want in a vintage HP? *happy sigh*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
Spanish, bullfighting Macho Man entraps virginal, English heroine into becoming his broodmare in order to ensure the continuity of his family line. He had apparently signed a contract to that effect with heroine’s skanky sister. Skanky sister got cold feet and sent heroine in her stead under the pretense that it was a secretarial job. Now that the heroine arrived and is at hero’s mercy, he decides to hold her to it. The heroine makes a lot of “How Outrageous” protests but when it finally comes to consummation, she really enjoys it and actively participates. At this point, Macho Man is besotted with the girl who gives him heaven in bed even as she gives him hell out of it. So he talks her into marriage to right the “wrong” he did her in forcibly seducing her.
They marry and have a nice honeymoon period. Unfortunately, heroine meets the hero’s snaky ex and her newest boyfriend. The fang-toothed viper is ALL OVER the hero at every social occasion and he doesn’t seem to mind. She corners heroine into the bathroom and taunts her that hero married her on the rebound because she refused his proposal, and once he gets his kid out of her, he will kick her to the curb and come back to his real love. The heroine broods and the viper’s boyfriend offers a sympathetic shoulder. This causes the hero to fly into a jealous rage and rape the heroine in a most disgusting, heart-wrenching scene.
Again, he feels remorse for his actions and asks her to forgive him and start again. Heroine is unsure but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially as she suspects she is pregnant. But seeing him in a rendez-vous with his ex has her seeing red. She grabs her passport and is about to haul ass back to England when she gets news that hero is in the hospital with blood poisoning due to a recent bullfighting injury. The couple finally avow their twu wuv and clear up all their misunderstandings on his hospital bed. Hero humbly admits his wrongs, tells her he loves her, and further clarifies that he met with the viper to tell her to stop interfering once and for all in his marriage.
I actually believed that hero didn’t cheat, despite him being a Kay Thorpe creation, nor do I think he will stray in the future. He was a pretty lonely, cynical misfit, estranged from distant relatives, and having lost his immediate family members in tragic circumstances. I think he will cling to and be loyal to his wife and children. The heroine was no doormat and will continue to tell him off if he tries to control her too much. HOWEVER, I could not get a higher rating because I needed someone to tell off the viper on rather than off page. I wanted the nice OM to dump her ass too cause why should she get a worshipful husband of wealth and looks after all the mischief she caused. Heroine’s deadbeat sister got absolutely no comeuppance for inveigling the heroine in this crazy scheme which could have ended very badly. And of course, the biggest problem I had was with the hero’s rape of the heroine: it was not only terrible and he never properly redeemed himself for it, it seemed like physical violence was his go-to every time he doesn’t get his way and he was going to repeat the experience but was stopped by a third party. I get that rapey heroes are the norm in Old Skool trainwrecks such as this story but the whole point of these Harlequins was to have the heroine triumph over the hero through the transformative power of love, and I wasn’t 100% convinced this happened here.
They marry and have a nice honeymoon period. Unfortunately, heroine meets the hero’s snaky ex and her newest boyfriend. The fang-toothed viper is ALL OVER the hero at every social occasion and he doesn’t seem to mind. She corners heroine into the bathroom and taunts her that hero married her on the rebound because she refused his proposal, and once he gets his kid out of her, he will kick her to the curb and come back to his real love. The heroine broods and the viper’s boyfriend offers a sympathetic shoulder. This causes the hero to fly into a jealous rage and rape the heroine in a most disgusting, heart-wrenching scene.
Again, he feels remorse for his actions and asks her to forgive him and start again. Heroine is unsure but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially as she suspects she is pregnant. But seeing him in a rendez-vous with his ex has her seeing red. She grabs her passport and is about to haul ass back to England when she gets news that hero is in the hospital with blood poisoning due to a recent bullfighting injury. The couple finally avow their twu wuv and clear up all their misunderstandings on his hospital bed. Hero humbly admits his wrongs, tells her he loves her, and further clarifies that he met with the viper to tell her to stop interfering once and for all in his marriage.
I actually believed that hero didn’t cheat, despite him being a Kay Thorpe creation, nor do I think he will stray in the future. He was a pretty lonely, cynical misfit, estranged from distant relatives, and having lost his immediate family members in tragic circumstances. I think he will cling to and be loyal to his wife and children. The heroine was no doormat and will continue to tell him off if he tries to control her too much. HOWEVER, I could not get a higher rating because I needed someone to tell off the viper on rather than off page. I wanted the nice OM to dump her ass too cause why should she get a worshipful husband of wealth and looks after all the mischief she caused. Heroine’s deadbeat sister got absolutely no comeuppance for inveigling the heroine in this crazy scheme which could have ended very badly. And of course, the biggest problem I had was with the hero’s rape of the heroine: it was not only terrible and he never properly redeemed himself for it, it seemed like physical violence was his go-to every time he doesn’t get his way and he was going to repeat the experience but was stopped by a third party. I get that rapey heroes are the norm in Old Skool trainwrecks such as this story but the whole point of these Harlequins was to have the heroine triumph over the hero through the transformative power of love, and I wasn’t 100% convinced this happened here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2017
Had I not read The Gift of Loving I may have contemplated going through the torture of stomaching this.
But I have fortunately read THAT book, which may have some blackmailing aspect to it, yes, but definitely NO rape. That one doesn't even have forced seduction. He, like this hero wants a baby, yes, but, not at any point is he abusive to the heroine physically.
This main character is a piece of work. He has made the same offer to many women. Women are just breeding machine to him. That is enough to write him off. And then his despicable behaviour to the heroine.
He feels it's ok for him to dangle the OW in front of her but the heroine cannot even breath at any other living male's direction! Also the same attitude the OW was nursing for the OM!
And for that matter, he rapes the heroine!!!! and there was no forgiveness asked for that let alone grovel.
He just asked to start over and let her sleep one precious night by herself without the threat of being raped.
He'd have raped the heroine the second time as well. He was only interrupted by a third person and if you ask for my opinion, he only did an 180 simply because he was caught red-handed by the third person, almost on the act of raping his wife. I had a feeling the third person's (their friend) husband STILL had some harsh word to convey despite heroine's objections and hero absolutely HAD to do some SERIOUS damage control FAST!
There was also the fact, just amazing sex was no longer enough to keep the virgin at bay, he was worried she WOULD either find the passport or smarten up enough to go to her embassy to get a new one and flee to UK, specially with the OM in picture.
So no, I do NOT believe in his declaration of love. I also do NOT believe he was redeemable, because there was NO borderline, it WAS rape, and she DIDN'T enjoy it, she called it rape. and rapists do NOT, under NO circumstances, deserve, redemption. Guy deserved castration!
But I have fortunately read THAT book, which may have some blackmailing aspect to it, yes, but definitely NO rape. That one doesn't even have forced seduction. He, like this hero wants a baby, yes, but, not at any point is he abusive to the heroine physically.
This main character is a piece of work. He has made the same offer to many women. Women are just breeding machine to him. That is enough to write him off. And then his despicable behaviour to the heroine.
He feels it's ok for him to dangle the OW in front of her but the heroine cannot even breath at any other living male's direction! Also the same attitude the OW was nursing for the OM!
And for that matter, he rapes the heroine!!!! and there was no forgiveness asked for that let alone grovel.
He just asked to start over and let her sleep one precious night by herself without the threat of being raped.
He'd have raped the heroine the second time as well. He was only interrupted by a third person and if you ask for my opinion, he only did an 180 simply because he was caught red-handed by the third person, almost on the act of raping his wife. I had a feeling the third person's (their friend) husband STILL had some harsh word to convey despite heroine's objections and hero absolutely HAD to do some SERIOUS damage control FAST!
There was also the fact, just amazing sex was no longer enough to keep the virgin at bay, he was worried she WOULD either find the passport or smarten up enough to go to her embassy to get a new one and flee to UK, specially with the OM in picture.
So no, I do NOT believe in his declaration of love. I also do NOT believe he was redeemable, because there was NO borderline, it WAS rape, and she DIDN'T enjoy it, she called it rape. and rapists do NOT, under NO circumstances, deserve, redemption. Guy deserved castration!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2017
RE Steel Tiger - Kay Thorpe brings us an h who is not the sharpest pencil in the box and a bull fighter Spanish Grandee H who has a most interesting contract for the h to fulfill.
This book starts with the h happily taking herself off to Spain to present her person to her sister's new employer - her step-sis got a better offer, a marriage proposal in fact, and volunteered the h to take over the secretarial position she was supposed to start.
When the h gets to the formidable Spanish estate and sherry vineyard, she is in for a bit of shock. Her sister never notified her new employer and told him about the switch in employees. The h doesn't understand the miscommunication, but if she is an acceptable replacement, she would love to have the job.
The H, after pondering the h's assets pretty thoroughly, agrees the h might do just fine - provided she passes a medical exam and answers a few questions about her last relationship and if she is still petting unicorns. The h has a fine sense of boundaries however, and sharply answers that yes, she pets unicorns on a daily basis, but that isn't pertinent to her employment.
The H seems to accept that as an answer and after being shown to a lovely room, passing an early morning medical exam with blood tests and having a nice refreshing swim, the H offers the h an employment contract. The h, confident that her word is her bond and enjoying the lovely Spanish hacienda estate experience, happily signs on the dotted line and then reels in shock when the H tells her that her duties will start that night- the h realizes that the Spaniard's keep odd late hours, but surely afternoons are for conducing business?
(Gather close fellow HP venturers, we are witnessing another HPlandia rule in the making. We all know the HP h's constitutional resistance to consulting an actual HP solicitor, but now we find out that golden HPlandia rule # 15. IF AN HP h IS PRESENTED WITH ANY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OR CONTRACT, SHE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SIGN AND NEVER ACTUALLY READ THE THING, MUCH LESS ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SHE IS REALLY AGREEING TO. Ah yes, that handy little contract rule # 15 has now officially arrived! And oh what a marvelous amount of forcible bargains and dubious consent situations we can all look forward to now!)
Because what the evil step sis failed to report and what the h now finds out, is that she just signed a contract with the H to give him a child. Good ole evil step-sis agreed to half of £10,000 in advance and the other half upon delivery. Not that the h got anything near £10,000, she just got a few pounds for travel expenses. The h is outraged, she won't submit to such barbaric treatment and the H has no way of enforcing this vile despicable document.
Except the H does, as he explains he owns the land surrounding the area and everyone on it and if she tries to escape or renege on the the contract she just signed, he will have her hunted down, kidnapped and beaten. The h is in a tizzy and begs for more time, she's is not in the habit of accepting advances from strangers and she always thought she would only give up unicorns for love. "Tough" is the H's only response, but he does agree to give her a few days to accustom herself to the situation.
The h isn't taking forced baby making lying down, she may not be quite into reading contracts but she can plan an escape or three if she needs it. But the H has taken her passport and she has limited funds. Tho she speaks the language, no one in the area will help her, cause they all work for the H. So she steals a horse and gets caught.
The h has a chance to demonstrate her HP h saintliness when she intervenes on behalf of the employee who was sleeping when she stole the horse in the middle of the night and begs the H not to fire him. We get an interesting Gypsy prophecy too, that things will start out really rocky but work out great in the end.
Eventually the H forcibly seduces the h and this leads to angry mutual passion piking. The h gets a rise out of the situation, but she isn't happy about it OR the H. He feels bad that unicorns will have tangled manes now, so he marries the h. She agrees cause he isn't letting her leave anyways, and at least she gets some moral decency out of the whole messed up situation.
There is shopping, H amateur bull fighting, socializing and more angry passion piking. We meet the OW, who turned the H down when he told her he wanted an heir, and the h is pretty effective in telling HER where to go pike it, since the OW is just jealous anyways.
The h finds that the status symbol perks of married life are great, but aside from drinking a lot of booze and sherry to educate her pallet, she and the H aren't getting along all that well. The h is still looking for a way out, cause she isn't happy and totally believes marriages should be for love only. She is just not ready to be in love yet, and she is going to be feisty about it.
The H gets gored in the groin by a bull saving some tourists, and the h's baby making status may be permanently horned out, but the h gets the H to the doctor and gallantly offers her own matching A neg type blood for a transfusion with the H. (It was kinda sweet, they have identical blood types. So we know the h won't hold out forever, cause matching rare blood types is practically destiny.)
Finally the H admits that he loves the h, after a few jealous outbursts over the h being seen with the OW's boyfriend - there was nothing going on, the young man keeps proposing to the OW and she keeps putting him off and the h is close to his age, so he thought she might have some advice.
The h still isn't all that sure she is ready to be in love yet, so things amble along until she sees the H in town with the OW. Well that tipped the pot right quick, and the h decides to leave the H and who cares about consequences. Once she is back in England, the H can't really do anything.
Then news comes that the H is seriously injured in a winery accident that reopened his groin injury. The h panics that the H might die, and so she decides she is in now ready to be in love. She rushes to the hospital for the big I love you's and we find out the OW only wanted to ask the H his opinion on whether she should marry her boyfriend or not. The H's opinion is He Doesn't Care - cause the h is preggers and the H will live and we leave them beaming at each other in a mutually jealous lurved up HEA, cause the Gypsy's Know All.
This one was cute and the h was not a doormat. The OW wasn't too obnoxious and we got a valuable new rule for future HPlandia expeditions. We also come away with the knowledge that if you are in a foreign country for a job that includes hymen status and a medical exam, it might be wise to READ THE CONTRACT before you sign it.
Now who said HP outings were not educational experiences?
This book starts with the h happily taking herself off to Spain to present her person to her sister's new employer - her step-sis got a better offer, a marriage proposal in fact, and volunteered the h to take over the secretarial position she was supposed to start.
When the h gets to the formidable Spanish estate and sherry vineyard, she is in for a bit of shock. Her sister never notified her new employer and told him about the switch in employees. The h doesn't understand the miscommunication, but if she is an acceptable replacement, she would love to have the job.
The H, after pondering the h's assets pretty thoroughly, agrees the h might do just fine - provided she passes a medical exam and answers a few questions about her last relationship and if she is still petting unicorns. The h has a fine sense of boundaries however, and sharply answers that yes, she pets unicorns on a daily basis, but that isn't pertinent to her employment.
The H seems to accept that as an answer and after being shown to a lovely room, passing an early morning medical exam with blood tests and having a nice refreshing swim, the H offers the h an employment contract. The h, confident that her word is her bond and enjoying the lovely Spanish hacienda estate experience, happily signs on the dotted line and then reels in shock when the H tells her that her duties will start that night- the h realizes that the Spaniard's keep odd late hours, but surely afternoons are for conducing business?
(Gather close fellow HP venturers, we are witnessing another HPlandia rule in the making. We all know the HP h's constitutional resistance to consulting an actual HP solicitor, but now we find out that golden HPlandia rule # 15. IF AN HP h IS PRESENTED WITH ANY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OR CONTRACT, SHE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SIGN AND NEVER ACTUALLY READ THE THING, MUCH LESS ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SHE IS REALLY AGREEING TO. Ah yes, that handy little contract rule # 15 has now officially arrived! And oh what a marvelous amount of forcible bargains and dubious consent situations we can all look forward to now!)
Because what the evil step sis failed to report and what the h now finds out, is that she just signed a contract with the H to give him a child. Good ole evil step-sis agreed to half of £10,000 in advance and the other half upon delivery. Not that the h got anything near £10,000, she just got a few pounds for travel expenses. The h is outraged, she won't submit to such barbaric treatment and the H has no way of enforcing this vile despicable document.
Except the H does, as he explains he owns the land surrounding the area and everyone on it and if she tries to escape or renege on the the contract she just signed, he will have her hunted down, kidnapped and beaten. The h is in a tizzy and begs for more time, she's is not in the habit of accepting advances from strangers and she always thought she would only give up unicorns for love. "Tough" is the H's only response, but he does agree to give her a few days to accustom herself to the situation.
The h isn't taking forced baby making lying down, she may not be quite into reading contracts but she can plan an escape or three if she needs it. But the H has taken her passport and she has limited funds. Tho she speaks the language, no one in the area will help her, cause they all work for the H. So she steals a horse and gets caught.
The h has a chance to demonstrate her HP h saintliness when she intervenes on behalf of the employee who was sleeping when she stole the horse in the middle of the night and begs the H not to fire him. We get an interesting Gypsy prophecy too, that things will start out really rocky but work out great in the end.
Eventually the H forcibly seduces the h and this leads to angry mutual passion piking. The h gets a rise out of the situation, but she isn't happy about it OR the H. He feels bad that unicorns will have tangled manes now, so he marries the h. She agrees cause he isn't letting her leave anyways, and at least she gets some moral decency out of the whole messed up situation.
There is shopping, H amateur bull fighting, socializing and more angry passion piking. We meet the OW, who turned the H down when he told her he wanted an heir, and the h is pretty effective in telling HER where to go pike it, since the OW is just jealous anyways.
The h finds that the status symbol perks of married life are great, but aside from drinking a lot of booze and sherry to educate her pallet, she and the H aren't getting along all that well. The h is still looking for a way out, cause she isn't happy and totally believes marriages should be for love only. She is just not ready to be in love yet, and she is going to be feisty about it.
The H gets gored in the groin by a bull saving some tourists, and the h's baby making status may be permanently horned out, but the h gets the H to the doctor and gallantly offers her own matching A neg type blood for a transfusion with the H. (It was kinda sweet, they have identical blood types. So we know the h won't hold out forever, cause matching rare blood types is practically destiny.)
Finally the H admits that he loves the h, after a few jealous outbursts over the h being seen with the OW's boyfriend - there was nothing going on, the young man keeps proposing to the OW and she keeps putting him off and the h is close to his age, so he thought she might have some advice.
The h still isn't all that sure she is ready to be in love yet, so things amble along until she sees the H in town with the OW. Well that tipped the pot right quick, and the h decides to leave the H and who cares about consequences. Once she is back in England, the H can't really do anything.
Then news comes that the H is seriously injured in a winery accident that reopened his groin injury. The h panics that the H might die, and so she decides she is in now ready to be in love. She rushes to the hospital for the big I love you's and we find out the OW only wanted to ask the H his opinion on whether she should marry her boyfriend or not. The H's opinion is He Doesn't Care - cause the h is preggers and the H will live and we leave them beaming at each other in a mutually jealous lurved up HEA, cause the Gypsy's Know All.
This one was cute and the h was not a doormat. The OW wasn't too obnoxious and we got a valuable new rule for future HPlandia expeditions. We also come away with the knowledge that if you are in a foreign country for a job that includes hymen status and a medical exam, it might be wise to READ THE CONTRACT before you sign it.
Now who said HP outings were not educational experiences?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2017
This started off so well: Crazy plot, great writing, a delightful spunky virgin heroine and an arrogant chauvinistic Hero who turns into a gentle sweet lover … but then suddenly WTF.
Storyline: Heroine is tricked by her evil step-sister into thinking she was signing up for a PA job to a wealthy Spanish vineyard owner who came from a long line of … useless somethings (don’t know, don’t care, he’s a dick). She desperately needs the job as she’s sold everything to fly out for the job. She meets H who assumes she knows what the position entails: a baby-making machine who will have sex with him, produce a MALE baby (no, really) then go away.
She’s not too bright as she signs the contract without reading and doesn’t think too much about why she needs a medical examination (which includes checking her hymen) for a secretarial job. He’s an Oxford grad whose arrogance extends to believing his male sperm will reign superior and surge ahead of the weaker female sperm and give him a male firstborn. Not a great showcase for Oxford talent, this book. Got to say though, mentally, these two could not be a better fit.
She wises up to the actual job description, is horrified, puts up a spirited fight and tries to escape. He wears her down with a potent mix of charm, determination and asshatedness. I must credit Kay Thorpe here; she did do a great job in making me turn pages with anticipation. It’s apparent he’s falling for her quickly though he maintains he doesn’t believe in love. After some tender love making sessions, he has a change of heart, apologises for his high-handed behaviour and offers her the respectability of marriage instead as he thinks they are quite compatible.
She starts getting hopeful for a workable marriage especially since she’s also falling for him. She meets the bitchy OW, doesn’t crumble, h and H both talk openly about his history with the OW and I’m thinking wow, this is really not bad, it’s working towards a fabulous 4star read.
Then the WTF event happened.
Storyline: Heroine is tricked by her evil step-sister into thinking she was signing up for a PA job to a wealthy Spanish vineyard owner who came from a long line of … useless somethings (don’t know, don’t care, he’s a dick). She desperately needs the job as she’s sold everything to fly out for the job. She meets H who assumes she knows what the position entails: a baby-making machine who will have sex with him, produce a MALE baby (no, really) then go away.
She’s not too bright as she signs the contract without reading and doesn’t think too much about why she needs a medical examination (which includes checking her hymen) for a secretarial job. He’s an Oxford grad whose arrogance extends to believing his male sperm will reign superior and surge ahead of the weaker female sperm and give him a male firstborn. Not a great showcase for Oxford talent, this book. Got to say though, mentally, these two could not be a better fit.
She wises up to the actual job description, is horrified, puts up a spirited fight and tries to escape. He wears her down with a potent mix of charm, determination and asshatedness. I must credit Kay Thorpe here; she did do a great job in making me turn pages with anticipation. It’s apparent he’s falling for her quickly though he maintains he doesn’t believe in love. After some tender love making sessions, he has a change of heart, apologises for his high-handed behaviour and offers her the respectability of marriage instead as he thinks they are quite compatible.
She starts getting hopeful for a workable marriage especially since she’s also falling for him. She meets the bitchy OW, doesn’t crumble, h and H both talk openly about his history with the OW and I’m thinking wow, this is really not bad, it’s working towards a fabulous 4star read.
Then the WTF event happened.
January 7, 2017
Innocent naïve Janita Presley got herself into a lair set-up by her evil step-sister.
Little did she know that the contract wasn't about a secretarial position, but something that would change her life forever!
She signed it without even reading it, trusting her step-sister.
"I want a son," Don Felipe de Rimados said.
Shock ricocheted through her.
What had got into her, that she would trust her step-sister and not read even one line?
Blindly, she had signed her body away to this Spanish aristocrat!
What had she let herself into?
Felipe made it clear that Jan's intrusion into his ordered life was for one reason only.
He didn't want the shackles of matrimony, and when her purpose was fulfilled, she'd be discarded without a second thought.
But, Jan was not any woman, sweet and feisty, she was an innocent, and he would take pleasure in it.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best," he told Jan firmly.
Her feelings didn't seem to matter at all, but then the tables turned, after all, he was not that heartless.
Knowing he was wrong in taking her innocence, in not such-a-nice way, he tried to make amends - marriage, he declared
But what happens when an HP hero tries to make things right his own way….obviously, a bigger mess!
Jan is confused, she understands neither head nor tail of this husband she has acquired out of the blue, and although she tried her best to hate him, she just fell more in love.
Can this steel tiger find an opening to love?
Sure, through defiant yet innocent Jan, but as the gypsies prophesied, it was not going to be an easy start - difficult, but not impossible.
This classic HP got the writing style and storyline of a Harlequin Historical, but with a more intense passion and chemistry.
But I really missed a good epilogue, the ending was badly abrupt like a thud to a greatly written story.
Well, at least one has the gypsy’s fortune-telling to go on with!
Chantal: Mille fois merci, for the recommendation, like I mentioned earlier, this is, so far, the best classic HP - I've come across!!
Little did she know that the contract wasn't about a secretarial position, but something that would change her life forever!
She signed it without even reading it, trusting her step-sister.
"I want a son," Don Felipe de Rimados said.
Shock ricocheted through her.
What had got into her, that she would trust her step-sister and not read even one line?
Blindly, she had signed her body away to this Spanish aristocrat!
What had she let herself into?
Felipe made it clear that Jan's intrusion into his ordered life was for one reason only.
He didn't want the shackles of matrimony, and when her purpose was fulfilled, she'd be discarded without a second thought.
But, Jan was not any woman, sweet and feisty, she was an innocent, and he would take pleasure in it.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best," he told Jan firmly.
Her feelings didn't seem to matter at all, but then the tables turned, after all, he was not that heartless.
Knowing he was wrong in taking her innocence, in not such-a-nice way, he tried to make amends - marriage, he declared
But what happens when an HP hero tries to make things right his own way….obviously, a bigger mess!
Jan is confused, she understands neither head nor tail of this husband she has acquired out of the blue, and although she tried her best to hate him, she just fell more in love.
Can this steel tiger find an opening to love?
Sure, through defiant yet innocent Jan, but as the gypsies prophesied, it was not going to be an easy start - difficult, but not impossible.
This classic HP got the writing style and storyline of a Harlequin Historical, but with a more intense passion and chemistry.
But I really missed a good epilogue, the ending was badly abrupt like a thud to a greatly written story.
Well, at least one has the gypsy’s fortune-telling to go on with!
Chantal: Mille fois merci, for the recommendation, like I mentioned earlier, this is, so far, the best classic HP - I've come across!!
April 10, 2020
H was just my type of hero but there was no angst unfortunately.
January 1, 2025
Quite a few things wrong with this one! The h had an emotional affair with a married man, which made me like her less, even so she didn't sleep with him. Apparently, his wedding ring didn't stop her from making out with him! Did she ever give a thought to his wife???
Then, despite knowing the dubious character of her stepsister, she takes her word that there's a job in Spain as secretary to a wealthy man (the H) just waiting for her in her stepsister's place, and she immediately packs her bags and heads there, only to find out that the job was NOT what she expected (big surprise)! In a really TSTL move, she signs a contract without reading it, then repeats her stupidity by having the H's doctor give her a complete exam (internal as well), no questions asked! (Since when does a secretarial job require that???)
When she finds herself trapped (the H realizes she was duped by her crummy stepsister, who also cheated her out of some money, yet he still insists she fulfill the contract, which is to give him a son and heir and then disappear once he's born, what a charming guy!!!), she completely messes up her chance to escape, nearly gets a young employee of the H fired, and ends up just where the H wanted her, in his bed, and thoroughly enjoying it!
The H is a strange one! He badly wants a son and heir, so he can keep at bay any inheritance claims from some cousins he can't stand (they're mentioned a few times, but never make an appearance), but despite being very popular with the ladies, he never made much effort to get married, until his ex-girlfriend (the OW) turned him down because she didn't want children. He has a cynical attitude toward love, but it's never clear where that came from, as the OW never made much of an impression on his heart, just his body.
One minute he's domineering and autocratic, the next he's more understanding and tolerant. He regrets forcing the h to keep to the contract, and decides they'll get married and be a family, but then sticks to his cynical attitude, claiming love doesn't have any place in his life. He's passionate but gentle in bed, and then he does an about face and forces himself on her in a jealous rage over the "OM" (who's in love with the OW and turns to the h for friendship and advice, acting more like a confused teenager than a grown man).
The author threw in the OW/OM just to get am jealousy thing going, but it got to be ridiculous, with the OW declaring to the h that she'll get the H back, yet contemplating marrying the OM at the same time, and the OM following the h around like a sad puppy, lovesick over the OW and wanting comfort and advice, angering the H and putting the h on the defensive. The H gets into a rage when he discovers the h had a coffee date with the OM (which she couldn't get out of, as the OM was in one of his needy/desperate moods), while she's hurt and insulted that he was suspicious, but then she turns around and acts even worse when she discovers the H on a similar date with the OW, not even planning to hear his side of the story, but ready to pack up and leave him (despite her suspicions she's pregnant), until the H had to be rushed to the hospital, where of course, love is declared, prelude to their HEA!
So much was so DUMB! There was a silly car accident the h got in, because she was thinking of the H and not paying attention, a serious leg wound the H received when he got gored by a bull, while saving some foolish young tourists (the h had the nerve to say he'd been "showing off"), and most ridiculous of all, the H refusing to admit he wasn't well after getting stitches and a transfusion (quite a coincidence, the h having the same rare blood type), going back to work too soon against medical advice, and collapsing and putting his life in danger!
STUPID!!!
It was also stupid that, despite all the trouble she caused, the stepsister never makes an appearance, and the h doesn't tell the H that she's most likely pregnant after they've declared their true love.
All in all, just too flawed.
Then, despite knowing the dubious character of her stepsister, she takes her word that there's a job in Spain as secretary to a wealthy man (the H) just waiting for her in her stepsister's place, and she immediately packs her bags and heads there, only to find out that the job was NOT what she expected (big surprise)! In a really TSTL move, she signs a contract without reading it, then repeats her stupidity by having the H's doctor give her a complete exam (internal as well), no questions asked! (Since when does a secretarial job require that???)
When she finds herself trapped (the H realizes she was duped by her crummy stepsister, who also cheated her out of some money, yet he still insists she fulfill the contract, which is to give him a son and heir and then disappear once he's born, what a charming guy!!!), she completely messes up her chance to escape, nearly gets a young employee of the H fired, and ends up just where the H wanted her, in his bed, and thoroughly enjoying it!
The H is a strange one! He badly wants a son and heir, so he can keep at bay any inheritance claims from some cousins he can't stand (they're mentioned a few times, but never make an appearance), but despite being very popular with the ladies, he never made much effort to get married, until his ex-girlfriend (the OW) turned him down because she didn't want children. He has a cynical attitude toward love, but it's never clear where that came from, as the OW never made much of an impression on his heart, just his body.
One minute he's domineering and autocratic, the next he's more understanding and tolerant. He regrets forcing the h to keep to the contract, and decides they'll get married and be a family, but then sticks to his cynical attitude, claiming love doesn't have any place in his life. He's passionate but gentle in bed, and then he does an about face and forces himself on her in a jealous rage over the "OM" (who's in love with the OW and turns to the h for friendship and advice, acting more like a confused teenager than a grown man).
The author threw in the OW/OM just to get am jealousy thing going, but it got to be ridiculous, with the OW declaring to the h that she'll get the H back, yet contemplating marrying the OM at the same time, and the OM following the h around like a sad puppy, lovesick over the OW and wanting comfort and advice, angering the H and putting the h on the defensive. The H gets into a rage when he discovers the h had a coffee date with the OM (which she couldn't get out of, as the OM was in one of his needy/desperate moods), while she's hurt and insulted that he was suspicious, but then she turns around and acts even worse when she discovers the H on a similar date with the OW, not even planning to hear his side of the story, but ready to pack up and leave him (despite her suspicions she's pregnant), until the H had to be rushed to the hospital, where of course, love is declared, prelude to their HEA!
So much was so DUMB! There was a silly car accident the h got in, because she was thinking of the H and not paying attention, a serious leg wound the H received when he got gored by a bull, while saving some foolish young tourists (the h had the nerve to say he'd been "showing off"), and most ridiculous of all, the H refusing to admit he wasn't well after getting stitches and a transfusion (quite a coincidence, the h having the same rare blood type), going back to work too soon against medical advice, and collapsing and putting his life in danger!
STUPID!!!
It was also stupid that, despite all the trouble she caused, the stepsister never makes an appearance, and the h doesn't tell the H that she's most likely pregnant after they've declared their true love.
All in all, just too flawed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2020
Here's the situation:
Your stepsister, who has previously shown herself somewhat untrustworthy, asks you to take her place as a personal secretary to a Spanish man. She gives you 5000 pounds, supposedly an advance for the first 6 months salary. (That would be somewhat over $40,000 today, a rather princely salary.)
When you arrive your new employer says the job is contingent on passing a thorough physical. He makes no mention of typing or shorthand or non-disclosure. Once you pass he hands you a contract and asks you read and sign.
Do you:
A. Sign the contract without reading it?
B. Read the contract through?
C. Ask a few questions about the nature of the duties?
In Harlequin Presents land you do A. Because of course you do. Because of course the contract is one that commits you to sleeping with the guy, bearing a boy child, then walking away.
When you object he reminds you that you had the opportunity to read the contract and threatens bodily harm if you run away. Now do you:
A. Grab a horse and try for the coast at 1 am?
B. Grab your walking shoes and hitch rides if need be?
C. Make the most of it?
Personally I'd take choice B but our heroine takes A, falls off the horse of course, gets taken back to the house where he later seduces her. She doesn't want to sleep with him but doesn't fight too hard because she's attracted (how???) and he's a super lover.
That's the story in a nutshell. The stupid plot overshadows what could have been enjoyable setting and somewhat decent characterizations. Because she's been so stupid and he's such an overbearing, arrogant jerk, it's difficult to enjoy the story despite Kay Thorpe's good writing.
Your stepsister, who has previously shown herself somewhat untrustworthy, asks you to take her place as a personal secretary to a Spanish man. She gives you 5000 pounds, supposedly an advance for the first 6 months salary. (That would be somewhat over $40,000 today, a rather princely salary.)
When you arrive your new employer says the job is contingent on passing a thorough physical. He makes no mention of typing or shorthand or non-disclosure. Once you pass he hands you a contract and asks you read and sign.
Do you:
A. Sign the contract without reading it?
B. Read the contract through?
C. Ask a few questions about the nature of the duties?
In Harlequin Presents land you do A. Because of course you do. Because of course the contract is one that commits you to sleeping with the guy, bearing a boy child, then walking away.
When you object he reminds you that you had the opportunity to read the contract and threatens bodily harm if you run away. Now do you:
A. Grab a horse and try for the coast at 1 am?
B. Grab your walking shoes and hitch rides if need be?
C. Make the most of it?
Personally I'd take choice B but our heroine takes A, falls off the horse of course, gets taken back to the house where he later seduces her. She doesn't want to sleep with him but doesn't fight too hard because she's attracted (how???) and he's a super lover.
That's the story in a nutshell. The stupid plot overshadows what could have been enjoyable setting and somewhat decent characterizations. Because she's been so stupid and he's such an overbearing, arrogant jerk, it's difficult to enjoy the story despite Kay Thorpe's good writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2024
This has some rave reviews but I just couldn't connect with either the h, Jan or the Spanish H, Felipe. In the final analysis I think it's because I'm just really not into love stories plotted around baby making. In this case quite baldly so (he hires her to have a child by/for him. Surrogacy 😬. She didn't know this was the 'job' her stepsister had set her up for which is somehow a get out of jail free morality pass). Anyhow, I prefer my earth shattering sex to be about overwhelming attraction, intimacy and connection between the couple, not a gateway to pregnancy of the intended or unintended variety.
August 1, 2021
This could have been higher rating but the ending was anticlimactic which is a real downer for me!
****For my remembrance, this is the one with the Spanish H getting hurt by the bullfighting in the field to save some tourists.
****For my remembrance, this is the one with the Spanish H getting hurt by the bullfighting in the field to save some tourists.
July 27, 2023
Did not like it much
July 26, 2021
"I want a son," Don Felipe said
That was the first indication Jan Presley had that the paper she'd signed was not a normal contract for secretarial employment. What had she let herself in for?
Don Felipe de Rimados made it clear that Jan's intrusion into his ordered life was for one reason only. He didn't want the shackles of matrimony, and when her purpose was fulfilled, she'd be discarded without a second thought.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best," he told Jan firmly. Her feelings didn't seem to matter at all ..
That was the first indication Jan Presley had that the paper she'd signed was not a normal contract for secretarial employment. What had she let herself in for?
Don Felipe de Rimados made it clear that Jan's intrusion into his ordered life was for one reason only. He didn't want the shackles of matrimony, and when her purpose was fulfilled, she'd be discarded without a second thought.
"Love is an overrated emotion at best," he told Jan firmly. Her feelings didn't seem to matter at all ..
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